Countries That Prohibit Gay Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Protection has reaffirmed that ‘all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’ However, protection of gay rights and those who practice homosexuality still remains elusive. They are often abused, discriminated and subjected to extreme social isolation and negativity.

Gay rights are violated in many countries and gays are subjected to harsh punishments, such as life imprisonments, death penalties and extrajudicial executions, just to mention a few. Human rights violations against gays and homosexuals continue to increase in many countries where the laws prohibit homosexual conduct.

Gay Rights and Human Rights Violations

Countries that deny gay rights tend to show a higher trend of human rights violations that are carried out against gays and homosexuals in the endeavor to support anti-gay legislations. The following countries do not recognize gay rights:

Uganda

The Uganda government is considering an Anti-Homosexuality Bill. It provides death penalty for homosexual sex, if one of the participants is HIV positive. Further, the Bill proposes harsh life imprisonment punishment for other forms of gay sex. Also, those fails to report homosexual activity, will be punished with three years of jail. Under the provisions of the proposed Bill, gay rights activists will be punished with imprisonment up to seven years. However, President Yoweri Museveni, has distanced himself from the Bill, due to immense pressure from foreign nations.

Malawi

Malawi is another country that is very strict on prohibiting gay rights and homosexuality. Malawians believe that homosexuality is an evil Western import.  In a recent incident of gay rights violations, a Malawian Court sentenced a gay couple for 14 years of jail. Further, another person was arrested and charged with disturbing peace, for putting up a poster reading ‘Gay Rights Are Human Rights.’ The Malawi government has been severely criticized by other countries, NGOs and gay rights activists for taking such inhuman and harsh steps against homosexuals.

Pakistan

Homosexuality is considered illegal in Pakistan. The transgender and gay men are often subjected to considerable social discrimination, aggression and they face death threats and acts of violence. However, the Pakistan Government now recognizes transvestite men or hijras as registered citizens, as per the ruling of the Supreme Court. However, the gay community in Pakistan still lives in isolation. Few grassroots gay movements have taken place, but broad social acceptance is still far away.

Turkey

The Turkish society has come under scrutiny, due to string of honor killings of gay and transgender people. In July 2010, two transgender women were murdered due to homophobic violence. Several international NGOs have contended the violence and the government’s attempts to violate gay rights.

Over 80 countries in the world do not recognize homosexuality legally. In fact, Sri Lanka’s Press Council fined a gay rights activist for registering a complaint against a newspaper. The newspaper had urged lesbians to be turned over to convicted rapists. The Council observed that that being a lesbian was an ‘act of sadism.’ It further, held the activist guilty, for promoting improper values.